20 Common Writing Errors and How to Fix Them

Print this out and keep it by your computer

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

We all have our own bugbears — things we have to look up, no matter how many times we have written them. This may seem picky, but it only takes two or three of these misused regularly, and your writing starts to seem full of errors, and editors then pay less attention or dismiss your work as ‘not professional enough’. Keep this list handy and add any others you aren’t sure about — find the correct way. Then it’s easy to check.

Here are 20 common errors to look out for in your writing:

1. Using the wrong its/it’s.
   Hint: Say the sentence out loud, substituting it is for its. Does the sentence make sense? If not, no apostrophe is needed.
2. Misusing commas. Use commas for lists and for clarity in longer sentences, usually to separate two independent clauses. If in doubt, leave the comma out. Reading your work aloud and pausing where you have put a comma will often show you if it’s really necessary or not.
3. Vague pronouns, e.g. John and George joined me, and he shook my hand. Which he — John or George? If in doubt, repeat the name.
4. Wrong choice of words — common errors here include affect/effect, aloud/allowed, break/brake. Most people do know the difference but errors occur when…